With a 54% increase in alcohol-related deaths since 2014, “Wisconsin leads the nation in excessive use of alcohol with reports showing increased alcohol sales and a rising death toll,” according to a new report by the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Injury Center. The report outlines 61 policy and systems recommendations to help modify the factors that encourage excessive alcohol consumption, but the major ones can be summarized as:
- Raising the price of alcohol (reduce youth consumption and binge, heavy drinkers);
- Reducing the density of alcohol outlets;
- Alcohol Compliance checks to ensure outlets aren’t selling to children;
- Place of Last Drink (POLD) to help communities understand where excessive alcohol drinking is happening within their communities; and
- Screenings and brief interventions as evidence show they can help reduce those who are binge drinking and also those who should be referred to treatment.
Wisconsin leads the nation in many alcohol-related factors that cost taxpayers billions related to OWI traffic crashes, health care costs, law enforcement resources, and in deaths and disease, the study says. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services estimated over 3,100 deaths in Wisconsin could be attributed to alcohol use in 2020 alone.
“It’s time we stop thinking excessive alcohol consumption is normal and start working on the culture around alcohol,” said Terri deRoon-Cassini, Director, CIC, MCW. “Alcohol impacts much of the work we do at the Comprehensive Injury Center and is a major factor in violence, crashes, injury, trauma and suicides. We see reducing excessive alcohol use as a very important way to reduce harm and trauma, as well as an important factor in many health issues like liver disease, cancer, mental health issues and others. By bringing the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project to the CIC, we are able to provide communities with effective tools they can use to change their alcohol environment and reduce excessive drinking.”